Price could be valuable piece

Bears trade for defensive tackle with high upside if he's over injury problems

Bears general manager Phil Emery indicated Tuesday he was not finished adding pieces to the team's roster. On Thursday, he traded a 2013 draft pick — a seventh-rounder, according to a source — to the Buccaneers for defensive tackle Brian Price.

"This is a very talented player," Emery said. "When he came out in the draft, he was picked high in the second round (35th overall. Fits our system. Fits the 4-3. Very explosive player off the ball, very reactive.''

Before Price officially joins the Bears, he will have to pass a physical. Price had two surgical procedures to re-attach his hamstrings to his fractured pelvis more than a year ago, but is believed to be fully recovered. A source said Price struggled on the Bucs' conditioning test Thursday, however.

Last year he started 14 games and had three sacks despite not being completely healthy. He told the Tampa Tribune he never was more than 60 percent healthy last year.

Also of concern is Price's emotional state. His 30-year-old sister Bridget was killed in a car crash in May. Shortly after, Price collapsed at One Buc Place because of mental and physical exhaustion. He subsequently was hospitalized for four days.

"He has had a tough go of it with family issues, obviously with his sister passing away he has had a hard time in the transition,'' Emery said, "He's a player who needs a new home. We're excited to bring him to Chicago.''

After Price was released from the hospital, he got into a fight with Bucs rookie safety Mark Barron and was given permission to skip the rest of offseason workouts, including a mandatory minicamp.

"You can't have too many good defensive linemen,'' coach Lovie Smith said. "As far as what position he'll play, we'll get him into the mix inside. That's about all I know right now.''

Back in action:Brian Urlacher returned to full practice for the first time since suffering ligament damage in his left knee in last season's finale. The linebacker participated in the entire session, as promised, and wore a knee brace.

"My knee felt fine before and after practice,'' Urlacher said. "The brace is different just because I never had worn one.''

Johnny Knox, who was placed on the active physically-unable to perform list as he recovers from spinal fusion surgery, was the only player held out of practice. Toeaina had full participation despite having his right hand heavily taped. Toeaina suffered a broken hand during offseason workouts and expects to have the cast removed Friday.